International Race of Champions
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International Race of Champions (IROC) is an auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an All-Star Game or The Masters. Driver race identical stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics in a effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It is run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12). It was created in 1973 by Riverside International Raceway President Les Richter and Roger Penske with Mark Donohue being the first driver to win the championship, in 1974. The cars used that year were Porsche Carrera RSRs. Donohue's win in the fourth and last race of that season was his last win as he died in a Formula One practice the next season. The series was not run in 1981, 1982 or 1983.
Due to its similarity to NASCAR in tracks and cars, the series is dominated by NASCAR drivers. The last non-NASCAR winner of the series was Al Unser, Jr. in 1988. Although open wheel drivers have had successes, as of 2003, drivers from road racing series had only won two races in the history of IROC.
In 2004, the hard liquor brand Crown Royal became the series' title sponsor.
IROC Champions
- 1974 - Mark Donohue
- 1975 - Bobby Unser
- 1976 - A.J. Foyt
- 1977 - A.J. Foyt
- 1978 - Al Unser
- 1979 - Mario Andretti
- 1980 - Bobby Allison
- 1981 - Not held
- 1982 - Not held
- 1983 - Not held
- 1984 - Cale Yarborough
- 1985 - Harry Gant
- 1986 - Al Unser, Jr.
- 1987 - Geoff Bodine
- 1988 - Al Unser, Jr.
- 1989 - Terry Labonte
- 1990 - Dale Earnhardt
- 1991 - Rusty Wallace
- 1992 - Ricky Rudd
- 1993 - Davey Allison
- 1994 - Mark Martin
- 1995 - Dale Earnhardt
- 1996 - Mark Martin
- 1997 - Mark Martin
- 1998 - Mark Martin
- 1999 - Dale Earnhardt
- 2000 - Dale Earnhardt
- 2001 - Bobby Labonte
- 2002 - Kevin Harvick
- 2003 - Kurt Busch
- 2004 - Matt Kenseth
Cars used by season
- 1974 Porsche Carrera RSR
- 1975-1980, 1984-1989 Chevrolet Camaro
- 1990-1993 Dodge Daytona
- 1994-1995 Dodge Avenger
- 1996-2004 Pontiac Trans Am
External link
- IROC website (http://www.irocracing.com) - Caution: Audio on linked page.